All Blacks fuming at book's steroids claim

Jack Ralston, on the cover of his new book The Sports Insider : A Life Among Champions with Steve Kilgallon Photo / supplied to Herald on Sunday

Former All Blacks are fuming over allegations of steroid taking in the 1990s.

Jack Ralston, who was New Zealand Rugby Union's head of sales and marketing between 1997 and 1999, made the allegation in his yet-to-be-released biography, The Sports Insider, the Press reports.

"People might be stunned by this but I know at least two All Blacks in the 1990s who responded to demands that they bulk up by taking steroids," he wrote.

Ralston would not name the two players, who he said had told him in confidence, telling Fairfax Media they were "smaller guys who needed to put on muscle and bulk who were under pressure".

He said the players may now feel they can speak publicly about taking the performance enhancing substances.

Former All Black prop Craig Dowd is livid at the claims.

Dowd agrees with a call of ex-captain Taine Randell, who says it's gutless not to name names.

"He has cast aspersion on a lot of people and I can say that during my time with the team I saw none of that," Randell told Fairfax.

Dowd says he never saw anything suggesting players were taking steroids.

Former All Black coach John Hart told the Press he had never heard of All Blacks taking steroids, saying "it would surprise me greatly".

Ralston has also coached triathlete Hamish Carter, worked for Netball New Zealand and with Arthur Lydiard.

He's also worked for Nike, alongside international stars including Tiger Woods, Michael Jordan and Carl Lewis.

The Sports Insider is due to be released for sale next week.

- Herald Online staff/Newstalk ZB